READING Abbey staged a stunning comeback at High Wycombe to end a four-game losing run with a 36-19 victory.

The visitors were heading for a fifth-straight Southern Counties North loss after trailing 19-0 at the break on Saturday.

But Luke Harding’s men were a different proposition in the second half as they clocked up 36 points without reply to win in some style with prop Adam Postlethwaite grabbing a hat-trick of tries.

Wycombe scored from their first attack of the day when Olly Wells touched down, with Toby Lane converting.

Abbey dug in and were a match for their hosts until two Wycombe tries in as many minutes gave them a sizeable lead.

Home winger Mitch Green weaved his way over for their second, converted score, then Mark Croome dabbed down wide on the right after Green had set him up to put the hosts 19-0 ahead.

Harding did not hang around and quickly sent on replacements Ollie Charlton, Maurice O’Connell and Ed House in a bid to stem the tide.

It worked a treat as Postlethwaite sparked the fightback by driving through a mass of bodies for Abbey’s first try, with fly-half Dan Love converting.

The momentum changed even further when referee Jon Chapman awarded Abbey a penalty try as Wycombe were repeatedly offside with Abbey camped on their line.

Abbey drew level on the hour mark when House collected Will Bevan’s kick and powered over the line. Love failed to land the extras, but he made no mistake with a penalty for offside shortly after to give Abbey a 22-19 lead.

The pumped-up visitors continued to dominate from there as Postlethwaite barged his way under the posts for the bonus-point try, with Love’s conversion making it 29-19.

And there was still time for Postlethwaite to burrow over the line after good work by outstanding No.8 Max Courtnage to complete a rare front-rower’s hat-trick, again Love converting.

Abbey even managed to deny Wycombe a try-scoring bonus point in the closing stages before winger Alex Langford-Pollard went over for the visitors’ final touchdown to seal a memorable comeback.

Abbey return to action on January 5 when they host Marlow.

Abbey: Greenaway, Langford-Pollard, Pawlett, Beckly, Strugar, Love, Bevan (c), Postlethwaite, Hart (Stevenson 49), Stevenson (O.Charlton 31), Staker (O’Connell 38), Brooker (Shaw 69), Shaw (E.House 38), G.House (Staker 79), Courtnage.